Can You Family Share Games? A Comprehensive Guide to Sharing Your Digital Libraries

The short answer is: yes, you can family share games, but the specifics depend heavily on the platform you’re using. The digital age has brought about the convenience of purchasing games online, but it also raises the question of sharing these purchases with family members. Luckily, most major gaming platforms offer some form of family sharing, allowing you to share your game library with designated accounts. This article will delve into how family sharing works across different platforms, addressing common questions and potential limitations.

Understanding Family Sharing Across Platforms

Each platform handles family sharing differently, but the core principle remains the same: allowing access to your purchased content to specific family members without requiring them to buy the same games again. Here’s a look at the most common platforms:

Google Play Family Library

Google Play allows you to share purchased apps, games, movies, TV shows, and e-books/audiobooks with up to five family members using Google Play Family Library.

How to Share Games on Google Play

1. Open the Google Play app.
2. Tap your profile icon in the top right.
3. Go to Manage apps and devices > Installed.
4. Select the purchased game you want to share.
5. On the game’s details page, enable the Family Library toggle.

This makes the game available to other members of your Google family group, who can then download and play it on their own devices.

Steam Family Sharing

Steam Family Sharing allows you to share your entire game library with up to ten family members or friends. This feature is exceptionally useful, as it allows others to access your library from their own computers.

How to Family Share on Steam

1. On the target computer, log into Steam.
2. Click on “Steam” in the top left, then “Settings”, and select “Family”.
3. Check the box labeled “Authorize Library Sharing on this Computer”.
4. Select the Steam user(s) you want to share with.
5. Click “OK” to confirm.

A significant restriction to note is that only one person can use a shared library at a time. This means if you’re playing a game from your library, no one else will be able to use it until you’re finished. However, each user gets their own separate game saves and achievements, which is a significant advantage over sharing a single account.

Xbox Gamesharing

Xbox Gamesharing allows you to share your digital game library with one other person by designating their console as your Home Xbox.

How Xbox Gamesharing Works

By setting a friend’s Xbox as your Home Xbox (and vice versa), you both gain access to each other’s digital games and subscriptions. This means you can both play the same games, even at the same time. This feature is limited to only two people; if you stop sharing with your current partner, you can then add another.

PlayStation

Unfortunately, PlayStation does not offer official family sharing in the same way that Xbox or Steam does. While there are ways to share an account with family members, it’s often not recommended due to potential security concerns and the risk of losing access to your purchases. The method that is closest to ‘game sharing’ is through setting one console as a primary console and activating offline sharing.

Apple Family Sharing

While Apple Family Sharing focuses primarily on sharing app purchases from the App Store, Apple Music and iCloud storage, it doesn’t offer a specific gamesharing feature as you might find with Steam or Xbox. You can, however, share app purchases with up to five other family members. This means you can purchase a game on the App Store and everyone in your family group can download and play it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions to clarify any uncertainties about family sharing:

1. Can You Play Family Shared Games on Different Computers Simultaneously?

No, generally you cannot play games from a shared library on different computers at the same time unless the method of sharing is a secondary method on a console such as Xbox’s Home sharing. On Steam, only one person can access a shared library at a time. On Xbox, Home Sharing can allow for simultaneous gaming.

2. Can You Play Multiplayer Games with Family Sharing?

Yes, you can generally play multiplayer games with family sharing, but usually not with the owner of the shared account on some platforms. For instance, on Steam, if the owner is playing, the shared user can’t play anything from that library. Xbox is the exception as Home Xbox sharing allows both users to play at the same time.

3. Why Can’t I See My Family Shared Games on Steam?

Make sure both accounts have enabled Family Sharing, and that the shared library is visible to the other account. To check, go to Steam > Settings > Family and ensure that both accounts are authorized for sharing.

4. Can You Game Share with More Than Two People?

Xbox Gamesharing is limited to two people at a time. You can’t add another person until you stop sharing with the original partner. Steam allows up to 10 accounts to have access to a shared library, but only one person can use it at a time.

5. Is Game Sharing Illegal?

No, game sharing on platforms such as Steam and Xbox is not illegal; these are features designed to allow people to share content with family and friends. However, you must adhere to the platform’s terms and conditions.

6. Do You Need an Internet Connection for Game Sharing?

Yes, in most cases, you will need an internet connection to verify the game ownership, especially with shared libraries like Steam and Google. Xbox can sometimes allow offline game access.

7. What Happens When the Owner of the Shared Library Plays?

When the owner starts playing a game from their library, anyone using it via family sharing might be interrupted to give priority to the owner. This is particularly true on Steam, where only one person can use a library at a time. Xbox Home sharing is the exception, allowing both the owner and the shared user to game at the same time.

8. Can You Bypass Steam Family Sharing Restrictions?

While there are some methods to potentially bypass restrictions like disabling library sharing on a given device, it’s not recommended as it might violate Steam’s terms of service. These methods are often temporary and not sustainable.

9. Is Family Sharing Free?

The basic family sharing features on most platforms, like Google Play, Steam, and Apple, are free. However, some services may have additional costs for higher-level family subscriptions, such as more cloud storage.

10. How Many People Can Use a Steam Family Shared Library?

Up to ten accounts can be authorized to access your shared library on Steam, but remember, only one user can play at a time.

11. Can I Share Games on My PC Without Using These Features?

You could potentially share your game files directly, but this is often against the terms of service of digital storefronts like Steam and would likely have no support for save games, etc. It is best to use the provided family sharing options.

12. What’s the Difference Between Home Sharing and Family Sharing?

Home sharing (typically Apple’s system) focuses on syncing media between devices, while family sharing is about sharing purchases between accounts. The two services work alongside each other, but have separate functions.

13. Can I Gameshare Game Pass?

Yes, you can. On Xbox, sign in on any Xbox console, and share your Game Pass subscription with anyone as long as you’re signed in. In addition, Xbox games can be shared using home console sharing with an authorized second player.

14. What are the Downsides of Gamesharing on Xbox?

One potential downside of Xbox gamesharing is that if you have an unstable internet connection, or the internet is down, you will not be able to play the games on your console if it’s not set as your ‘Home’ Xbox.

15. Why is Family Sharing Not Available?

On Apple devices, make sure you’re using the same Apple ID for Family Sharing and Media & Purchases, and that purchase sharing is enabled. Sometimes, restarting devices can resolve some unexpected issues.

Conclusion

Family sharing for games is a fantastic feature that allows families and friends to enjoy each other’s game libraries, saving money while expanding the gaming experience. While different platforms have their own specific rules and limitations, the core concept remains beneficial for everyone. Understanding how each system works will help you share and enjoy games with the people close to you, making the most of your digital game libraries. Remember always to consult the terms and conditions of the platform you’re using.